Lavender oil
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Lavender oil is an essential oil obtained by distillation from the flower spikes of certain species of lavender. It is commonly used in aromatherapy, perfumery, and as a flavoring or fragrance in consumer products. A standardized oral preparation known as Silexan is also used for the treatment of anxiety disorders.<ref name="dold">Template:Cite journal</ref>
There are over 400 types of lavender worldwide with different scents and qualities. Two forms of lavender oil are distinguished, lavender flower oil, a colorless oil, insoluble in water, having a density of 0.885 g/mL; and lavender spike oil, a distillate from the herb Lavandula latifolia, having a density of 0.905 g/mL. Like all essential oils, it is not a pure compound; it is a complex mixture of phytochemicals, including linalool and linalyl acetate.
Lavender oil has been used in perfumes, aromatherapy, massage therapy, and topical skin applications, though these uses lack strong clinical evidence of effectiveness. It may cause allergic reactions in massage therapy. Silexan is approved in Germany for anxiety-related restlessness and has shown some clinical effectiveness in reducing anxiety symptoms, though its overall efficacy remains debated. Although generally recognized as safe, lavender oil may act as an endocrine disruptor, is toxic if ingested, especially for children, and can cause poisoning symptoms, skin irritation, and drug interactions.
Historically, spike lavender oil was used as a solvent in oil painting before turpentine became common. Lavender oil is primarily produced through steam distillation of harvested lavender blooms—typically between late June and August—with leading global producers including Bulgaria, France, and China. Lavender oil is among the most commonly adulterated essential oils.
Production
Pure lavender essential oil is produced through steam distillation.<ref name="LavBook" /><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> This generates a greater amount of oil compared to other methods due to reduction of polar compound loss.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Harvest of lavender blooms is typically between late June and August.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The cut lavender flowers and stems are compacted into a lavender still. A boiler is then used to steam the bottom of the lavender flower filled still at a very low pressure.<ref name="LavBook">Template:Cite book</ref> The lavender flower pockets containing oil are broken from this heating process and a pipe of cold water is run through the center of the still.<ref name="LavBook" /> The hot lavender oil vapor condenses on the cold pipe with the cold water and is collected into a holding tank where it is allowed to settle.<ref name="LavBook" /> Due to polarity and densities of the water and oil, these two will separate in the holding tank whereupon the water is piped out, leaving just lavender essential oil.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Lavender oil is produced around the world, with Bulgaria, France and China leading its production.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Uses
Lavender oil has been used as a perfume, aromatherapy, and skin application,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp but these uses have no clinical benefit.<ref name=nccih/> Lavender oil is used in massage therapy as a way of inducing relaxation through direct skin contact, although allergic reactions may occur.<ref name=nccih/> There is no good evidence to support the use of lavender oil aromatherapy for treating dementia.<ref name=dement>Template:Cite journal</ref>
In Germany, Silexan is approved as a medicine for restlessness associated with anxiety.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A 2024 review found that an oral 80 mg dose of lavender oil per day reduced symptoms in people with anxiety disorders compared to placebo.<ref name=dold/> The effectiveness of using oral lavender oil for treating anxiety remains undetermined.<ref name="nccih">Template:Cite web</ref> Lavender oil may be useful for treating depression.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Oil of spike lavender was used as a solvent in oil painting, mainly before the use of distilled turpentine became common.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Adverse effects
Although lavender oil is generally recognized as safe for its intended uses,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> it is a potential endocrine disruptor that may affect breast development in children.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Many essential oils, including lavender oil, can be poisonous if swallowed.<ref name="mlp">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="lee">Template:Cite journal</ref> In general, Template:Convert of a diluted essential oil may cause toxicity in adults, whereas Template:Convert can be toxic in children.<ref name="royal">Template:Cite web</ref> Over 2014-18 in New South Wales, there were 271 reported cases of lavender oil poisoning Template:Ndash mostly in children Template:Ndash accounting for 6.1% of all essential oil poisoning cases.<ref name="lee" /> The main toxic constituents of lavender oil are linalyl acetate and linalool.<ref name="mlp" /><ref name="Els">Template:Cite journal </ref>
Symptoms of lavender oil poisoning by ingestion include blurred vision, difficulty breathing, burning pain in the throat, burns to the eye, confusion, decreased level of consciousness, diarrhea, stomach pain, vomiting, and rash.<ref name=mlp/> Topical application of lavender oil may cause contact dermatitis.<ref name=royal/>
Ingestion of lavender oil may cause interactions with prescription drugs, including anticoagulants, statins, and anticonvulsants.<ref name=drugs/>
Phytochemicals
The phytochemical composition of lavender oil varies from species to species (table), consisting primarily of monoterpeneoid and sesquiterpeneoid alcohols.<ref name="drugs">Template:Cite web</ref> Linalool (20-35%) and linalyl acetate (30-55%) dominate, with moderate levels of lavandulyl acetate, terpinen-4-ol and lavandulol, 1,8-cineole, camphor, limonene, and tannins.<ref name=drugs/> Lavender oil typically contains more than 100 compounds, although many of these are at negligible concentrations.<ref name=drugs/><ref name="ShellieMondello2002">Template:Cite journal</ref>
The composition of lavender essential oil as obtained by chromatography:<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
| Family | Composition | Lavande officinale Lavandula angustifolia |
Lavande aspic Lavandula latifolia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terpenes / Monoterpenols |
File:Linalool skeletal.svg Linalool |
28.92 % | 49.47 % |
| α-Terpineol | 0.90% | 1.08% | |
| γ-Terpineol | 0.09% | ||
| Borneol | 1.43% | ||
| Isoborneol | 0.82% | ||
| Terpinen-4-ol | 4.32% | ||
| Nerol | 0.20% | ||
| Lavandulol | 0.78% | ||
| Terpenes / Terpene esters |
File:Linalyl acetate.svg Linalyl acetate | 32.98 % | |
| Geranyl acetate | 0.60% | ||
| Neryl acetate | 0.32% | ||
| Octene-3-yl acetate | 0.65% | ||
| Lavandulyl acetate | 4.52% | ||
| Terpenes / Monoterpenes |
Myrcene | 0.46% | 0.41% |
| α-Pinene | 0.54% | ||
| β-Pinene | 0.33% | ||
| Camphene | 0.30% | ||
| (E)-β-Ocimene | 3.09% | ||
| (Z)-β-Ocimene | 4.44% | ||
| β-Phellandrene | 0.12% | ||
| Terpenes / Terpenoid oxides |
File:Eucalyptol.png Eucalyptol (1,8-cineol) |
25.91 % | |
| Terpenes / Sesquiterpenes |
β-Caryophyllene | 4.62% | 2.10% |
| β-Farnesene | 2.73% | ||
| Germacrene | 0.27% | ||
| α-Humulene | 0.28% | ||
| Ketones | File:Camphor structure.png Camphor |
0.85% | 13.00 % |
| 3-Octanone | 0.72% | ||
| File:Cryptone.svg Cryptone |
0.35% |
Adulteration
Lavender oil is among the most commonly adulterated essential oils.<ref name="wang">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>